Srinagar, Sep 30 (IANS): A top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit was killed in an encounter with the joint forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, the Army said on Wednesday.
The encounter took place late Tuesday evening. Srinagar headquartered Chinar Corps of the Army said on X, “Based on specific intelligence input, a Joint Search Operation was launched by #IndianArmy, @JmuKmrPolice and @crpf_srinagar in general area Korag, Yousmarg.”
“Vigilant troops observed suspicious activity and upon being challenged, terrorists opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire during which One terrorist neutralised,” the Army further said in the post.
The slain terrorist has been identified as Fauzi Musa. He was wanted for his involvement in several attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
He had escaped an encounter in the Yousmarg hills on September 5, in which his close aide, Yasir, was killed, officials said.
The operation was launched after receiving specific information about the presence of terrorists in the area, officials said, adding, “As the joint forces intensified searches and moved towards the suspected hideout, the terrorists hiding in the area opened fire, triggering an encounter. In the ensuing exchange of fire, the LeT commander was killed.”
The operation is still going on in the area.
J&K Police and the security forces have heightened vigil in the union territory after movement of terrorists was reported in the Pir Panjal mountain range that connects the hilly districts of Jammu division with the Valley.
The operations against terrorists are continuing in the densely forested areas of Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban and other districts, and the main objective of these operations is twofold.
The operations are carried out to eliminate the hiding terrorists and also to ensure that they do not get a foothold in any area to plan targeted attacks on the security forces and the civilians.
Districts like Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, Baramulla, Kupwara and Budgam have densely forested hilly areas, and these are under the scanner of joint forces to ensure that terrorists feeling the heat of joint operations in the Jammu division are prevented from creating hideouts in these areas.
